Dubai: A disparate trio of Dubai-owned horses, headed by last season’s Breeders’ Cup winner Outstrip, will bid to provide their Classic campaigns with the desired blast-off by winning the Qipco 2,000 Guineas (G1) at Newmarket, England on Saturday.
Outstrip represents three-time Guineas winners Godolphin, while Ertijaal will seek to give owner Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, a third trophy following Haafhd in 2004 and Nashwan, who blazed a winning trail in 1989.
The third Dubai representative is the Saeed Manana-owned Night Of Thunder, who will be looking to supply his multiple international Group 1-winning owner with a maiden British Classic success.
Together they face a formidable task as the colt’s Classic, which celebrates its 206th running, appears to be an ultra-strong renewal.
Their opponents include unbeaten dual Group Three winner and 7-4 favourite Kingman, Irish hope and son of the great Galileo, Australia, and last season’s juvenile champion Toormore.
Top contenders like War Command, Kingston Hill and Spanish raider Noozhoh Canarias add depth and quality to the 14-strong field for a race that will also kick-start the QIPCO British Champions Series, which incorporates the best 35 races in the British calendar.
Outstrip provided new Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby with his first Group 1 victory when winning the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita in the United States last November.
The son of Exceed And Excel is set to make his first start since that day and Appleby was hopeful of another strong performance.
“I have been very pleased with Outstrip’s preparation for the 2000 Guineas,” he said.
“It was always the plan to go straight for the Classic and hopefully he will be competitive.
“I think it was the good to soft ground that went against him in the Dewhurst Stakes, rather than the course. He ran well at Goodwood, which is an undulating course, and has worked twice on the racecourse side gallops here in Newmarket without any problem.
“I would be delighted if he finished in the first three or four.”
The former Epsom Derby-winning trainer William Haggas saddles all-weather champion Ertijaal for Shaikh Hamdan as he bids to win the Classic for the first time.
A Shadwell homebred by Oasis Dream, Ertijaal recorded an impressive victory in the 3 Year Old Championships Conditions Stakes on the final day of the All-Weather Championships at Lingfield, England.
Haggas, who in March saddled Mukhadram to finish runner-up the $10 million (Dh36.72 million) Dubai World Cup (G1), will be hoping Ertijaal will go one better.
Saeed Manana is chasing a first Guineas with Night of Thunder, who finished behind Kingman in the Group 3 Greenham Stakes at Newbury earlier this month.
Meanwhile, Kingman’s trainer John Gosden trusts his colt can end his wait for a maiden 2,000 Guineas trophy.
“He’s been in good form since the Greenham,” he said. “I have been pleased with him between his races.
“He’s a very genuine, honest horse who gives you everything he’s got. So there should be some improvement [from his run in the Greenham]. He just wants good ground.
“As far as staying the mile is concerned, you cannot realistically stage a strongly run Guineas at home so we will only find out when he races. But he gives us every indication that he will stay.
“His draw in stall one is not a help. I would have preferred to be drawn in the middle or higher. Raven’s Pass [who finished fourth in 2008] was also badly drawn and never got cover so we will just have to see how it pans out.”
The 2,000 Guineas is the first of Britain’s five Classic races. It also serves as the opening leg of the Triple Crown, followed by the Derby and the St Leger.
